As the platoon leader of the Tiger tank platoon, Wittmann received an order to lead his platoon of three Tiger tanks and a company of infantry to approach the Soviet position from the flank and try to create some pressure on the opponent.
At the same time, it also has to shoulder the task of fire support, using the 88mm cannon to promptly kill the most difficult opponents within the field of vision.
It would naturally be better if conditions permitted, and it would be better if he could rush to the enemy's position. If he could not, it would not matter, because this was not Wittmann's main task in the first place.
So although it sounds like there are a lot of tasks at first glance, when it is actually implemented, there is a lot of room for maneuver. No one requires Wittmann to rush forward and fight the Russians on the position. This is more of a fire reconnaissance.
The task of adding close support can be said to be a very easy job.
An ordinary vehicle commander might feel lucky or even happy about this, but Wittmann, who was always frowning, didn't think so. His keen war instincts and sixth sense honed over thousands of times were at work all the time.
He told Wittmann that the Russians on the opposite position were probably not simple.
In front of the Russian position, the wreckage of our own tanks were scattered everywhere. Through the higher-end observation periscope on his commander's command tower, Wittmann could even see some of the dark tank wreckage, which was still smoldering.
A wisp of green smoke.
Who knows how long it took for the remains of these tanks to burn out before the flames were extinguished, but judging from the looks of it, it will definitely not last long.
As the commander of one of the earliest Tiger tanks, Wittmann knew how powerful his vehicle was. The Tiger tank was a very sophisticated and excellent war machine. It had shown unrivaled combat performance in all past battles it had been equipped with to this day.
Invincible in the field, the Russian's shabby tractor could only be beaten to pieces in front of the tiger.
Out of curiosity and to evaluate whether his vehicle had been surpassed, Wittmann boarded the latest Panther tank that had just been replaced by the SS Division before the Second Battle of Kharkov to take a closer look.
after all.
After some sightseeing and internal experience, Wittmann was slightly disappointed and came to a not-so-good final conclusion.
If we do not take into account the high failure rate of new equipment and the performance of the entire vehicle that needs to be adjusted, the Panther tank's performance in the three elements of firepower, mobility, and protection is indeed better than its own Tiger heavy tank.
This knock-off of the Russian T34 medium tank has surpassed the Tiger, which is a pure German bloodline, in all three elements of the tank since its birth.
Such an embarrassing situation made Dr. Goebbels's statement that "the Germanic nation is the best in the world and the best bloodline in the world" once again fall apart in the face of facts.
If what Dr. Goebbels said is true, then the Panther tank, which is inspired by the imitation of the T34 design, has better overall performance than the Tiger tank, which is a pure continuation of German blood. How to explain this?
The works of a bunch of "inferior nations" who only know how to make tattered tractors actually outshine the masterpieces of the "best nations"!
What does this mean?
Is the German elite inferior to the Slavic barbarians? Or is Germany inferior to the Soviets?
Glib and hypocritical rhetoric pales in comparison to the plain facts with irrefutable evidence.
Recalling that when the Panther tanks were first delivered to their own Guards Division, many people were still resistant to this tank that looked like an enlarged version of the Russian T34, and would rather continue to drive No. 3 or No. 4 tanks.
I waited in line for the Tiger tank again, and I vowed never to drive a knockoff of an inferior Russian tractor, but in the end no one could escape the law of truth once I started operating it.
Wittmann smiled bitterly as he replayed the recent memory in his mind and shook his head. Today, there is no need to regard Dr. Goebbels's high-sounding words as the supreme truth, even if he is the "most trustworthy" personally advertised by the Führer.
The same is true for "loyal people".
The rhetoric about superior nations and inferior nations being born to be rulers and conquered can only be said to be bullshit now!
From the first three months of the Moscow rant, it has now been nearly three years but it is still spinning around in Kursk.
Having gone through countless cruel battles, Wittmann is no longer the new recruit who is easily coaxed around. Although his faith and loyalty are still there, he has a calmness and rationality that is good at thinking. After all, no brainless fanatic can survive.
today.
"Everyone brace up, keep your eyes open, and look at the pile of battered remains of the Black Panther in front of the opposite position."
"The Russian tanks on the opposite position are difficult to deal with. Don't think of them as the KVs and T34s we encountered in the past. Otherwise, the Skeleton Division would not have been dealt with so miserably. Our superiors would need to send us on a special trip to help.
If you don’t want to die, just do as I say, the shells that can penetrate the Panther can also penetrate our armor, do you understand?"
At the critical moment when the war was about to begin, Wittmann was more accustomed to cheering his crew members in the past, but this time it was completely different.
The four crew members, two in the turret and two in the hull, all looked sideways at Wittmann with some surprise. The commander today always had an indescribable strange smell.
But out of trust in Wittmann's always sensitive and accurate sixth sense, no one in the group of young SS armored soldiers who were still chatting and laughing finally refuted. Even if they had any objections, they just pursed their lips.
He swallowed back the words that came to his lips.
Karl, the gunner who had the best relationship with Wittmann, couldn't help but start to think. If what Wittmann said was true and he really expected the appearance and power of the Russians, then could his and his team's vehicles be able to defeat this powerful opponent?
Woolen cloth?
"It will definitely be possible. The new weapons the head of state promised us will not be worse than the Russian tractors! After fighting this battle, we can continue to move towards Moscow. The war will definitely end before Christmas this year! It will definitely be
so!"
With almost everyone thinking about different things, the Tiger tank moved forward in silence until Wittmann, who was also silent, raised his hand and pressed the throat microphone to give an order.
"Raymus, stop the car!"
There is no need for a reason for the order from the commander. The driver, as a member of the crew, only needs to obey it.
The remaining two Tiger tanks, with Wittmann's platoon commander's command vehicle as the core, also stopped. The SS infantrymen who were standing behind or sitting behind the Tigers got out of the car one after another and joined their comrades who were trotting along on foot.
Meet at the tank and assemble and stand by.
Wittmann emerged from the turret and looked around, seeing that the commanders of the remaining two Tiger tanks under his command also leaned out and looked at him, obviously waiting for his next order.